Denver opens its quest for back-to-back NBA titles against the same opponent it vanquished to win the Western Conference last season: the Los Angeles Lakers.

The second-seeded Nuggets host the seventh-seeded Lakers in Game 1 of the first-round series at 8:30 p.m. ET on Saturday evening.

Nikola Jokic and company had no trouble with Los Angeles in last year’s playoffs, wiping the Lakers in a clean four-game sweep. Jokic dominated, averaging 27.8 points, 14.5 rebounds, and 11.8 assists in the series.

In reality, Denver has had little difficulty with the Lakes over the last two or three years. The Nuggets begin the series having won their last eight meetings against Los Angeles, including the postseason.

The Lakers will seek to retain momentum after winning the No. 7 vs. No. 8 play-in game on Tuesday night, scoring a 110-106 victory against the Pelicans.

Since slipping to 36-32 on March 16, the Lakers have won 12 of their last 15 games, hitting their stride at the appropriate time. Anthony Davis and LeBron James, both healthy, remain the focus points, but Los Angeles’ success may be defined by supplementary components like Austin Reeves, Rui Hachimura, and D’Angelo Russell. All three scored in double figures in Tuesday’s triumph.

Here is everything that you need to know ahead of Game 1 of Lakers vs. Nuggets. In the United Kingdom, select playoff games are available to watch on TNT Sports and stream on Discovery+. In India, fans can catch certain playoff games on Sports 18 and JioCinema (check local listings). Games can also be viewed via NBA League Pass.

If a game is not available to view live in your location or if you’re going abroad, you can use a virtual private network (VPN). VPNs provide a safe and private online connection, allowing you to bypass geographical limitations and access your favorite streaming service from any device, anywhere in the world.